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Transportation budget repairs aging roads,
retains jobs
Buchy
Applauds Bipartisan Passage of Transportation Budget; Measure will
repair aging roads, is projected to retain nearly 30,000 jobs
COLUMBUS—State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) has announced
that after more than two weeks of committee hearings and deliberation,
the Ohio House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 114—the
state transportation budget.
The transportation budget outlines appropriations totaling $7 billion,
including more than $2 billion allocated each year for the construction
and maintenance of Ohio’s roadways. In total, the Ohio House reduced
transportation spending by nearly $15 million compared with the
executive proposal and reduces the total fee burden on Ohioans by more
than $5 million annually.
Among other initiatives, House Bill 114 consolidates Bureau of Motor
Vehicles (BMV) services and reduces BMV spending by approximately $6.7
million in the first year and $7.7 million in the second year. It also
specifies that the next-of-kin form provided at the BMV be extended to
renewals of drivers’ licenses and applications, as well as renewals of
motorcycle licenses.
Representative Buchy commented, “I believe fee increases are taxes, and
I am happy this bill removed the late fees that were placed on tardy
vehicle registration that have burdened Ohioans since the passage of
the last transportation budget in the 128th General Assembly.”
House Bill 114 aims to protect Ohio jobs by including appropriations
for the Public Works Commission (PWC), specifically $150 million for
the state capital improvement program and $49 million for the revolving
loan fund while also increasing the amount for local governments. In
total, the PWC appropriation is projected to retain as many as 30,000
Ohio jobs.
Representative Buchy continued, “I am especially pleased that this bill
includes capital appropriations of the Public Works Commission. I was
contacted by many constituents in my district and believe these dollars
are important for a number of projects that are currently in the
planning stages in the district.”
Additionally, the legislation improves Ohio’s business climate by
creating an online titling program for commercial vehicles and easing
restrictions on transportation of Ohio’s farm commodities and
agricultural products.
House Bill 114 now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.
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